“It was my husband who said ‘take him to the hospital because there’s something not right’.

“He didn’t get the rash until two days after he was in hospital

“It’s not always the rash that comes first. They did tests on him and had him wired up to machines for two to three days.

“Doctors said he could have learning disabilities when he gets older, and at the moment his immune system has completely gone.

“I don’t think he will have learning difficulties because he picks things up quickly.”

Victoria, who is expecting her second child this Christmas, stayed in hospital with her baby for 10 days and the family’s experience of both the birth and the illness has been written down to help anyone else going through the same situation.

Michelle said: “When Victoria gave birth to him I made an information website about teenage pregnancies and put a meningitis advice section on there when he was diagnosed.”

Great-grandma Norma Eaton (53) said: “It was devastating news at the time. Worry, stress you name it, it was there.

“It started off when he was poorly, while he was really ill for three to four days, we didn’t know what was going to happen.

“We wouldn’t like to put him through that again or see anybody else go through it because it’s not nice.

“When a friend of mine celebrated her 65th birthday, instead of having presents she organised a charity night and raised £500 for Disney Ward at Scunthorpe General Hospital where Jake was treated.”